Compare & Contrast Ethical Decision Making

COMPARE AND CONTRAST ETHICAL DECISION MAKING 1

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Compare & Contrast Ethical Decision Making

Ja’Niya Ladson

Department of Business and Entrepreneurship

BA130OL- Introduction to Business

Dr. Wilton Stewart

March 21, 2021

Grade Breakdown

>Communication: 16.00 points out of 20 points

>Analysis: 16.00 points out of 20 points

>Application: 17.00 points out of 20 points

>Effective Use: 17.50 points out of 20 possible points (error in APA format)

>Style: 18.00 points out of 20 possible points.

Remarks:

• Missing page number on cover page in upper right-hand corner.

• Errors noted with Source entries in reference list. See professor’s comments.

• Paragraphs are not in proper format. Paragraphs should be aligned left and not full justified.

• Improper format noted in textual citations with three or more authors.

• Student did not comply with assignment instructions. Differences were identified between the various approaches to ethical decision making by the

student. However, the student did not answer the question -- “what similarities

and differences can you identify between this week’s video . . . and . . . the

course textbook?

COMPARE AND CONTRAST ETHICAL DECISION MAKING 2

COMPARE AND CONTRAST ETHICAL DECISION MAKING 3

One of the things that managers deal with every day is ethical decision making. Some

dilemmas are easy and others are difficult. Most difficult dilemmas involve a conflict between the

needs of the part and the whole. Other difficult dilemmas are between an individual and an

organization or an organization and society. Ethical decisions are made on norms and values.

Normative ethics uses a number of approaches to describe values for making ethical

decisions. There are a number of approaches that are used by manager to make ethical decisions.

These approaches include utilitarian approach, individualism approach, moral-rights approach,

justice approach, and practical approach (Daft & Marcic, 2017 p.159). These approaches have

similarities and differences. It is important to consider those similarities and differences.

The utilitarian approach is an ethical approach that is based on the idea that the ethical

choice is the one that produces the greatest good for the greatest number. In this case, the decision

maker is required to consider the effect of every option on all the people involved and choose the

option that is beneficial to many people.

The individual approach is based on the idea that an action is ethical when it promotes the

best interests of an individual since every person pursues their self-interest, the greatest good is

achieved. This approach is different from the utilitarian approach in that it focuses more on

personal benefit as the main factor in ethical decision making (Fraedrich, Ferrell, & Ferrell, et al.,

2013 p.148). For example, a manager can promote this approach by encouraging employees to

find ways to outperform their workmates. Basically, the company will benefit from the

competition. This approach is not used in many cases today due to the fact that it focuses on self-

interest.

Commented [WS1]: Paragraphs is in full justified format vice aligned left.

Commented [WS2]: Improper format for three or more authors in a textual citation. Recommend review Chapter 8 of APA Manual 7th ed.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST ETHICAL DECISION MAKING 4

According to the moral-rights approach, ethical decisions are decisions that are maintain

the fundamental rights of the people that will be affected by the decisions being made. Therefore,

managers should not interfere with the rights of other people that include right to freedom and

privacy.

The justice approach holds that ethical decisions should be based on impartiality, fairness,

or equity. There are three types of justice that are important to managers that include distributive,

procedural, and compensatory. Distributive justice focuses on treatment for proper reasons

(Fraedrich, Ferrell, & Ferrell, et al., 2013 p.147). Procedural justice is based on the idea that rules

should be stated clearly and applied well. Compensatory justice is based on the idea that people

should be compensated fairly. According to this type of justice people should not be held

responsible for something that they have no control over.

The fifth approach to ethical decision making is the practical approach. This approach is

different from other approaches in that it does not focus on bases, just, good, or right but rather on

the profession standards and the society. In this approach, a decision that is accepted by the

professional community is considered ethical. An ethical decision is one that a manager cannot

hesitate to put on the news and one that someone can feel comfortable discussing with friends and

family.

Managers can use a number of approaches to make ethical decisions based on values and

norms. All the approaches used are different but they also have similarities. One of the similarities

between all the approaches is the fact that they are all meant to help managers to make ethical

decisions.

Commented [WS3]: See earlier comment on textual citation.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST ETHICAL DECISION MAKING 5

References

Fraedrich, J., Ferrell, L., & Ferrell, O. C. (2013). Ethical decision making in business: A

managerial approach. Mason, OH: South-Western.

Daft, R. L., & Marcic, D. (2017). Understanding management. Australia: Cengage Learning.

Commented [WS5]: Hanging indent must be 0.5 inches. the entry is not in hanging indent format, it is in centered format.

Commented [WS6]: DELETE City and State of publisher; no longer required in APA Manual 7th ed. Further,

Commented [WS8]: Not authorized. ➔ DELETE. See earlier comment about City and state entry in a cited source.